Archives West Finding Aid
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Women's Relief Corps (U.S.). Fred Winthrop Relief Corps, No. 7 (Missoula, Mont.) Records, 1904-1954
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Women's Relief Corps (U.S.). Fred Winthrop Relief Corps, No. 7 (Missoula, Mont.)
- Title
- Women's Relief Corps (U.S.). Fred Winthrop Relief Corps, No. 7 (Missoula, Mont.) Records
- Dates
- 1904-1954 (inclusive)19041954
- Quantity
- 0.25 linear feet
- Collection Number
- Mss 125 (collection)
- Summary
- The Women's Relief Corps No. 7 of Missoula, Montana, was founded in 1903 as a Civil War relief organization.
- Repository
-
University of Montana, Mansfield Library, Archives and Special Collections
Archives and Special Collections
Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library
University of Montana
32 Campus Dr. #9936
59812-9936
Missoula, MT
Telephone: 406-243-2053
library.archives@umontana.edu - Access Restrictions
-
Researchers must use collection in accordance with the policies of Archives and Special Collections, the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, and The University of Montana--Missoula.
- Languages
- English
- Sponsor
- Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Historical NoteReturn to Top
The Woman's Relief Corps was one of three auxiliary organizations of the Grand Army of the Republic (the other two being the Ladies of the Grand Army of the Republic and the Sons of Veterans.) The national organization was formed in 1882, and by 1896 had 140,305 national members.
The Missoula Corps, corps number seven, was founded in 1903. Membership in the Woman's Relief Corps was open to all loyal women who had the desire to assist in perpetuating the principles of the group, who had never given aid or comfort to enemies of the Union, and who were at least 16 years of age. The corps had many goals, some of which were to perpetuate the memory of the Grand Army of the Republic and all those who fought in the Civil War, to imbue the public mind with patriotism and conservatism, and to give relief, not only to relatives of Civil War veterans, but to any who needed it.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
This collection spans the dates of 1904 to 1950. It includes general correspondence and personal letters, secretary and financial quarterly reports, monthly meeting minutes from 1930 to 1947, publications from the national organization and publications from the state of Montana organization.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Restrictions on Use
Researchers are responsible for using in accordance with 17 U.S.C. and any other applicable statutes. Copyright not transferred to The University of Montana.
Preferred Citation
[Name of document or photograph number], Women's Relief Corps (U.S.). Fred Winthrop Relief Corps, No. 7 (Missoula, Mont.) Records, Archives and Special Collections, Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, The University of Montana-Missoula.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Arrangement
The collection is divided into five series.
Series I: General Correspondence, 4 items, 1946-1950
Series II: Quarterly and Monthly Reports, 20 items, 1946-1950
Series III: Minutes, 3 notebooks, 1930-1947
Series IV: National Organization, 1 folder, undated
Series V: State Organization, 1 folder, undated
Acquisition Information
Source of acquisition unknown.
Processing Note
The collection was originally arranged in six series: general correspondence, financial records, minutes, organization, reports and miscellaneous. The processor slightly changed the organization. The second series was changed from financial records to quarterly reports, the fourth series was changed from organization to national organization, and the fifth series was changed from reports to state organization. The miscellaneous series was removed, and the items in this series were placed with the papers from the national organization and state organization. Everything is in chronological order.
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Series I: General Correspondence , 1946-1950Return to Top
This series contains four letters obtained by the Woman's Relief Corps of Missoula. The first letter is a thank you letter for Christmas gifts sent. The second letter is about the 1948 national conference. The third discusses the option of the Woman's Relief Corps and the Ladies of the Grand Army of the Republic holding their department convention together, and the fourth, dated 5-7-50, stated that the department meeting will be held in Butte in June. These letters are arranged in chronological order.
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 1/1 | 1946-1950 |
Series II: Quarterly and Monthly Reports , 1946-1950Return to Top
This series contains quarterly reports from the secretary and quarterly and monthly reports from the treasurer of the Missoula Woman's Relief Corps. The first three reports are from the secretary. These reports state the number of members in good standing, number of members lost and gained for the quarter, and the number of persons assisted in a quarter. The remaining reports are those of the treasurer. The first two are quarterly financial reports, and the remaining are monthly financial reports. These reports state the fund balance of the group, incoming monies, and how corps money was disbursed during the quarter and month. Both the secretary and treasurer reports are arranged in chronological order, starting with the secretary reports, moving to the quarterly financial reports and ending with the monthly financial reports.
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 1/2 | Quarterly Secretary and Treasury
Reports |
1946-1950 |
| 1/2 | Monthly Treasury Reports
|
1946-1950 |
Series III: Minutes , 1930-1947Return to Top
This series contains the minutes from the monthly meetings of the Missoula Woman's Relief Corps meetings.
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 1/3 | 1930-1936 | |
| 1/4 | 1937-1943 | |
| 1/5 | 1944-1945 |
Series IV: National Organization , undatedReturn to Top
This series contains various publications of the National Woman's Relief Corps organization. Included is two Corps Services booklets, dated 1904 and 1937, and a Ritual booklet, dated 1941. The 1941 version of the National Woman's Relief Corps Constitution is next in the collection. Following are seven General Orders from the national organization, dating between 1947 and 1950. Following are eight publications from the National Headquarters, including a Department Delegate's Card, The Freedom Pledge, The American's Creed, the National Salute to the Flag, a copy of Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, and a pamphlet sharing how to display and respect the American Flag. Finally, there is a completed application for membership.
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 1/6 | Publications |
|
| 1/6 | Application for membership
|
Series V: State Organization , undatedReturn to Top
This series contains two reports, dated 1947 and 1948, of the Montana state convention of the Woman's Relief Corps. Next is a report informing of the upcoming 1954 state convention. Following is a Memorial Day Blank used to report the Corps activities for each Memorial Day. The series ends with two Montana State Rosters, dated 1946 and 1950.
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 1/7 | Reports |
1947, 1948, 1954 |
| 1/7 | Rosters |
1946, 1950 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Patriotic societies--Montana--Missoula
- Women--Montana--Missoula--Societies and clubs
Geographical Names
- United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Societies, etc.
Other Creators
-
Corporate Names
- Woman's Relief Corps (U.S.)
- Woman's Relief Corps (U.S.). Dept. of Montana
Finding aid prepared by Sarah
Switzer
1998
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
